President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will send troops to Portland, Oregon, stating he is "authorizing Full Force, if necessary" to address what he calls "domestic terrorists." This decision marks an expansion of his controversial military deployments to various American cities. Trump made the announcement via social media, directing the Department of Defense to provide all necessary troops to protect what he described as a "war-ravaged Portland."

The president claimed the deployment is essential to safeguard U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, which he alleges are "under siege from attack by Antifa and other domestic terrorists." However, the White House did not provide immediate details regarding the timeline for the troop deployment or the specific units involved.

At a news conference on Friday, Democratic U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley cautioned the public about the potential for chaos. "Don’t take the bait," he advised. "Our responsibility is to, yes, express our views. Yes, protest. But best done at a distance from these federal troops, wherever they might be and whatever they are doing, because their goal is to create an engagement, an engagement that will lead to conflict."

Trump has previously threatened to send the National Guard to Chicago but has not yet acted on that promise. A smaller deployment in Memphis, Tennessee, is anticipated soon, involving about 150 troops, which is significantly fewer than those sent to Washington, D.C., or Los Angeles during previous operations.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson expressed concern over the sudden increase in federal agents in the city, stating, "We did not ask for them to come. They are here without clear precedent or purpose." The city, with a population of approximately 636,000, has experienced ongoing protests related to racial justice since the murder of George Floyd in 2020. The Trump administration previously deployed hundreds of agents to protect federal properties amid those protests.

Recent demonstrations in Portland have been less intense, primarily focused around the ICE building, which has been boarded up and tagged with graffiti. Some federal agents have reported injuries, and several protesters have faced assault charges. The Department of Homeland Security condemned the erection of a guillotine by protesters earlier this month as "unhinged behavior."

Despite the tensions, city officials have highlighted signs of recovery in downtown Portland. This summer reportedly saw the highest pedestrian traffic since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and a recent report indicated a 17% decrease in overall violent crime in the city from January to June compared to the same period in 2024.

In recent comments, Trump has intensified his rhetoric against what he terms the "radical left," blaming them for political violence in the country. He suggested that a significant operation is planned for Portland, stating, "We’re going to get out there and we’re going to do a pretty big number on those people in Portland," referring to protesters as "professional agitators and anarchists."

As the situation develops, local leaders continue to express their opposition to federal intervention, emphasizing their commitment to managing protests and maintaining public safety without outside military presence.